Blue Hue - The Mandala Effect

[Tsotsi]

Artist: Blue Hue
Title: The Mandala Effect
Label: Plateau 5 Records
Date: January 1, 2019 

Tracklist:-

1. Hitting Bowls
2. Positivictricity
3. Cosmic Interference
4. Mind Modem
5. Methamoprh
6. Mandala Effect
7. Dropping Society

Ah summer time, where the sun flows through cities like gold, when cool nights are spent dancing under the ruby leaves while drinking iced tea made by the deities and spinning in our summer trappings. Condensation of diamonds forming on the outside of our glasses in while we were still free from the constraints of existence. I remember it so clearly, a better time. I'm certain.

The Mandala Effect

 

I can't tell you why this wasn't released by a bigger label than little old Plateau 5. 

I can't tell you why I haven't heard people talking about Blue Hue.

I can tell why that should change right this second.

With incredibly well produced lower ends, Driving rhythms, fun melodies and pretty bloody ripper album artwork if I may say so, The Mandala Effect makes for a worthy listen. 

Hitting Bowls starts the album off in cool style. the tibetan singing bowl sounds sends pure DMT into your head as it fills the space left by the other layers of the song. The melody floating in for the second half creates great energy and allows us to cruise through track.

Positivictricity, go on, be honest with yourself, try and say that in one go. Another cruisy track is filled with soft layers that float around your head while the kickdrums pushes the track to it's final message about just being positive dammit! 

Cosmic Conference, the cosmos, home to all conferences known to life. Any conference ever had will happen right here, in our cosmos. Super clubby atmospheres and rumbles take this track into hyperdrive. The low end is THICK and fills the track with just enough space for the light high notes to sparkle along. The main lead melody could have been given a bit more emphasis but I aint saying i didn't enjoy it.

Mind Modem brings us another big track that really blasts off at that 3:40 point. I was drifting through the first half of the track just having a daze then that break came and brought back to dance land. As Simon Cunninghurst would say 'Pretty dope'

Methamorph this must be science for 'Absolute aggressive madness'. My favourite of all the extra clubby tracks. Super hot, I know it's true, no Mandala Effect here, just solid memory of a solid song.

The Mandala Effect A longer track suggests to me that blue Hue has more ideas that he is willing to work with. And right I am, the main melody is super cool. Still light, but infectious.

Dropping Society is the kind of track that starts and makes you think that you know what sort of song you are going to get. But as soon as the other layers start to seep in you quickly become lost in it's funkiness. 

 

Mandala Effect is a very very nice piece of art. The amalgamation of styles and techniques works really well here, resulting in more progressive club type tracks while remaining exciting for their entirety. The melodies are all cool, if not occasionally quiet but that's just the style of the album. this will be my next purchase for sure. It would be great to see more work released from Blue Hue.

https://plateau5.bandcamp.com/album/the-mandala-effect

 

[Manuser]

Yes an interesting release, mid-tempo, progressive, morning vibes. Don't get turned off by the first track, it has IMO a dull repetitive melody but the rest of the album is solid for what it is. Favorite track: #6. Good material for summer dancefloors or just home listening.